WHAT'S NEW - ARCHIVE PAGE

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^{New! 22.06.10}     Martin Brough's new promo video for the Love Stoke website at LOVEstoke.org...

"We are looking for passionate, energetic theatre and dance enthusiasts, based in the West Midlands, to join our first ever Festival team. ... Please write to us expressing your interest in the project, and also attach your latest C.V."

"The duties will involve spending the day at Calke Abbey, invigilating the art exhibits round the Calke Abbey estate and informing the public about the artwork and the exhibition. If you are interested in contemporary visual art, enjoy talking about art, are friendly and reliable, this will offer you invaluable experience of working with a visual arts organisation. It will be a fantastic opportunity to meet leading artists too. You will be required from 10am until 5pm on the days you assist and we recommend you bring a packed lunch. Beacon will help with transport to Calke Abbey where possible. Please email us at:  info@beaconartproject.com

"aims to discover and showcase the most exceptional talent working in the ever-expanding realm of online video. Developed by YouTube and the Guggenheim Museum in collaboration with HP, YouTube Play hopes to attract innovative, original, and surprising videos from around the world, regardless of genre, technique, background, or budget. This global online initiative is not a search for what's "now", but a search for "what's next".

* 12 film makers win a chance to show their work on 214 cinema screen nationwide in the UK
* £30,000 to make their next film
* A "People's Choice" winner will take home thousands of pounds worth of new film kit
* Films must be in English, or subtitled in English, and be of a duration of up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

"We are currently offering: space for your company logos and banners that will form coverage across the site, stall spaces to sell your product or promote your company, as well as companies who have their own means of running their business at the carnival. All business types will be considered."

"from painting to sculpture, performance, making — anything you can think of that would enrich the experience of the festival goers and increase your profile. You could do workshops with kids or adults or simply turn up and do your thing. Pitches are free. If you need to charge, that's OK".

"Whether you are an employer, an employee or a freelancer, what you tell us about your skills needs, experience of training and recruitment, future plans and working patterns will help us produce the most comprehensive profile of working life in the UK's creative media industries. The results of the surveys will directly and quickly shape all our work, including future training support, pin-pointing skills gaps and what more we can do to make sure our industries maintain their world-class position."

"a pre-roll animation, to play before some of the videos on our site that shows the best of humanity and promotes the positive relationship between people and animals. Animals in your animation must be acting naturally, you shouldn't dress them in clothes or portray them dancing. Your animation should be in keeping with our values and promote what we do; it should appeal to a broad audience."

"Anecdotes, jokes, urban myths, tales of horror, boredom, infatuation or even just shopping [...] stories of love and hate; of how communities have been transformed for the better or completely destroyed by malls." [...] Your stories could be just a paragraph or a page, or something longer. These don’t have to be stories of momentous occasions [...] they could equally well be small stories, say about your best ever day of shopping, or a description of regular routine work in a shop or mall. Your story could be one of a case of mistaken identity, or of revenge, or of being accused of shoplifting; it could be about what it's like to be a security guard in a mall or a shopper; it could be about committing some forbidden act or being a victim of a crime. These could also be stories about how malls work, how they are built, and what effect the coming of a mall has had on your community."

"... explore the subject of art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries that has been lost or destroyed in a variety of ways." They want... "proposals from a cracking creative company with a great track record to create a unique online experience."

"We would welcome anyone, from artists specialising in creating mysterious creatures to museum visitors that would like to 'give it a go', to send us images of their fantasy creatures. Drawing, sculptures, paintings or found objects all welcome. We will put the images and any information to go with them up on the museum website. To send us a picture and some text about your fantasy creature attach it to an e-mail and send to:  katie.shipley@stoke.gov.uk

"explores the concept of misunderstanding or misrepresentation by looking at ... how young people are viewed by society."

"challenges filmmakers on any budget from anywhere in the world to create tiny gems of under 90 seconds — distinctive, imaginative and engaging."

Film and media education.
Film festivals.
Film scripts development.
Regional film industry networks.

" ... Poole Literary Festival have partnered with The Media School at Bournemouth University to establish the Prize, which will allow writers working with New Media to showcase their skills, provoke discussion and raise awareness of new media writing and the future of the written word. The competition is now open for entries. The deadline for entries is noon [UK time] on 15th September 2010. Show us that new media can do things 'old' media can't!"

"invites applications from all over the world for new animation content in any format — including television series, telemovies, theatrical features — will see MDA co-investing up to S$5 million (U.S. $3.5 million) for each qualifying project. ... We look forward very much to co-creating new intellectual property ... in partnership with like-minded members of the animation [industry]"

* "urge the next government to establish an enterprise scheme [...] based on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme of 1983-91." [...] "Jobcentre Plus staff should be made aware of the value to the creative industries of encouraging some jobseekers to take a self-employed option."

* "a national mentoring programme and call on larger employers to draw up guidelines of good practice that encourage their senior staff to participate."

* "The creation of hubs, incubators and spaces where artists and creative entrepreneurs can work" [...] "with grants where appropriate."

* "Employers in the creative sector should ensure their professional skills training is readily available to [their] freelancers."

* "The creative industries should investigate as a matter of urgency, the likely impact of two-year degree courses"

UK business giving to the arts, 2008/9.

"to spend some time working alongside experienced practitioners, bestselling authors, innovative theatre groups, award-winning illustrators and internationally renowned companies."

"the organisational structures and strategies, both within the Conjunction Biennial and the regional regeneration environment."

"where documentary, commercial and fine art practices merge or cross over"

"any available studio work, anything from demos to full albums. Comfortable with a fair range of styles. No gigging work please as — after 150-odd gigs over 18 years — I'm now looking to gain more studio experience."

"digital promotional and marketing materials such as.... * creating digital assets such as clips, trailers, podcasts, stills, etc; * developing social media elements such as blogs, widgets and social networking profiles; * interactive websites; and * viral marketing."

Detail from a photo at Leek Cattle Market, by Kate Beatty.

"... a day of discussion around the ideas of contemporary art and the early years [...] with a panel of artists and early years professionals. Places are free but should be reserved by calling the Ikon on: 0121 248 0708."

"Are you a musician who wants to develop your music leading career? Then this is your chance for a half hour, one-to-one session, to ask those burning questions about kick starting your career, or to find out a little more about what MusicLeader West Midlands has to offer you. To book your half-hour slot contact us on: west-midlands@musicleader.net"

"both male and female who wish to push back the boundaries and are not afraid of some risky stuff. Cam Girl: The Movie is a recent example as well as The Stone. We are looking for relatively unknowns".

"... of late-night museum openings [...] There are sleepovers, ghost hunts, torchlight tours, illuminations, pop up bars and many other kinds of entertainment [...] animations should be humorous and fun"

"Learning to live sustainably — how can your subject-area contribute?"

"is a scavenger hunt and free-content photography contest running in museums and cultural institutions across the UK during February 2010. The aim is to increase the number of pictures available to illustrate Wikipedia articles, and to inspire new articles"

"the reality of working in the film industry, from four of the region's most experienced producers who will talk about their career as film and television producers and they will be on hand to answer your questions."

Eligible Programmes for Professional Preparation Masters Awards: M.A. Design Management; M.A. Interior Design; M.A. Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products; M.A. Product Design; M.A. Textiles, Fashion and Surface Design.

"expects the majority of successful proposals to be in the area of Creative and Performing Arts, and that the awards will tend to be Professional Preparation Masters Schemes."

^{New! 16.01.10}     Added to the Directory: Moorlands Radio, based in Leek, Staffordshire.

"creative ways of learning about digital tools in North Staffordshire communities. We are calling for ideas to develop mini-projects that will connect communities of North Staffordshire. A small amount of funding is available to facilitate four mini-projects. They might include, for example: games using digital equipment, engaging ways of conveying information using screens or other technology, temporary installations that encourage self-expression or provide a gateway into the World Wide Web."

^{New! 20.12.09}     Stoke-on-Trent's Victoria Hall has announced a new children's theatre project for Easter 2010, the "Musical Theatre Performance Project", Victoria Hall. Children aged 10 years or older are invited to participate in Gulliver's Travels. No previous experience is needed — you'll have a go at acting, dancing and singing, with support from a professional artistic team who have extensive professional experience as directors, musicians, and actors. Participants must be available to attend every day (morning and afternoon) on the following dates in 2010: April 6th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th and 14th. The performance will be on 14th April, in the early evening. Places: £40 each. Bookings at:  joblagg@theambassadors.com

* early-stage SMEs, with or without revenues
* high-growth companies (potential to return a multiple of the investment in 3-7 years)
* SMEs interested in raising investment of up to £500,000

1) Hip Hop Dance is from 26th to 29th Oct, 10am-3pm each day. "An intensive and creative four days of high energy, hip hop dance with choreographer and director Lucie Talbott (Director of Dance Nuvo). The piece you create will be premiered on stage at The Regent Theatre in 010 Dance, the annual youth dance festival, on Saturday 30 Jan. Suitable for boys, girls age 10 – 18 and while previous dance experience is useful it is not essential. Venues: The Victoria Hall (Mon-Tue) and St. Margaret Ward Catholic School, Tunstall (Wed-Thurs). Cost: £80 all inclusive (£75 for families receiving benefits) (£50 each when booking two places at once). Plus costume costs – these will remain as reasonable as possible."

2) Comedy Drama Workshops at the Victoria Hall. Cost: £10 per person...

* 27th Oct, 10am-3pm. Ages 8-11. "This fun and lively taster workshop will look at comedy characters, accents, facial expressions and body language. Don't miss your chance to play the fool!"

* 28th Oct 10am-3pm. Ages 12-18. "Working with professional actors you will look at some classic comedy scripts from English television and theatre, and focus on perfecting accents, body language, punch lines and timing."

"new micro-enterprise activity and helping existing micro-enterprises (less than 10 employees and £2m turnover/social enterprises) to develop new projects involving the development and/or promotion of local products and services."

"... take a group of companies representing music in the region in order to network, develop partner relationships, increase international trade, and meet companies interested in developing opportunities and investment in the West Midlands"

"Tatton Park Biennial invites artists who are currently living or working in the North West of England to develop site-specific proposals for the 2010 Biennial: Framing Identity. One artist will be selected to participate in the Biennial with an awarded budget of £5,500 to cover fees, materials and expenses."

"focusing on the chain of historically important hill top Iron Age forts that lines Cheshire's Sandstone Ridge".

* Friday 23rd October 2009 - 10am to 4.30pm.
The Birmingham Rep Conference Centre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham city centre.

* Wednesday 28th October 2009 - 10am to 4.30pm.
Dalton-Ellis Hall, Conyngham Road, Victoria Park, Manchester.

"In my practice, I have started to challenge the use of the video camera by exploring the physical limits of its frame through performances. With the Action Research Project, I would like to explore the use of projectors, surveillance cameras, video cameras, TV monitors and different types of screens to offer interactive live video installations involving passing pedestrians. The piece would be shown through the window of an empty shop."

* projects where young people aged 5 to 19 take creative control of the idea development process;
* projects that create scripts in any genre;
* projects that result in film scripts of up to 10 minutes in length;
* projects based in the UK, primarily involving young people who live in this country.

"We hope to organise regular meetings (preferably involving either coffee, beer and home made cakes) and to offer help to anyone wishing to start a blog, website or any web related activity, or just to share ideas along the way."

Tuesday, 10th November 2009. Professor Karen Hunt, History: "Telling The Many Stories of Dora Montefiore (1851-1933): history and life-writing".

Wednesday, 12th May 2010. Professor David Shepherd, Cultural Theory: "The Theory of Culture and the Culture of Theory".

"will provide major networking and future business opportunities for companies in the Creative industry."

"The project will gather products Made In Longton, along with related stories of the people who made them. These will then be displayed in a key location in the town centre to form a unique exhibition. All the collected information will also be published online. We will soon start collecting. The product can be anything but it must have been made within the area of Longton. People must also provide a brief description of the item and explain what it means to them, along with a photograph of the people who made it."

"leading to an individual 60 second script which will then be submitted to the Flip Animation Challenge with the opportunity to be produced by animators in residence during the festival and screened on the final day of the FLIP festival. The workshop is led by Myles McLeod, one half of BAFTA nominated The Brothers McLeod. This 5 hour workshop will include: Creating characters; Three act structure; Scene structure; Getting inspired; Thinking animated; Taking criticism; and Writing a 60 second script. Cost: £25 (£20).

"new, free, regional resource supporting arts and cultural learning for children and young people, both in and out of school"

"At the moment we see it as a special collectible, limited edition, publication for arts reviews, comment, poetry, journalistic articles, illustration, photography etc... a beautiful thing to hold with real artistic value in itself. We will discuss this idea in more depth at the next Friday Surgery on September 25th 2009. Please interact here on the blog in the meantime, comment with your thoughts and ideas. ... a monthly model looks the most sustainable and in terms of timescale, it's probable we'd have a trial run produced by sometime in October."

"The report acknowledges that these HE interventions have negligible tangible data to demonstrate financial outputs, knowledge transfer or student learning. Three years on, virtually all of the £88.6 million-backed initiatives have disbanded."

Bristol (art and the public realm). Best practice visit: 22nd Sept. Knowledge exchange: 25th Sept.

Leicester (regeneration and culture). Best practice visit: 10th Nov. Knowledge exchange: 12th Nov.

Sheffield (public art strategy and delivery). Best practice visit: 16th Feb 2010. Knowledge exchange: 19th Feb 2010.

Glasgow (creative industries). Best practice visit: 30th-31st March 2010. Knowledge exchange: 6th April 2010.

30th October 09 (10am - 4pm), 'Artists Into Industry Forum' day at the new Wedgwood Museum. Booking essential. Call 01782 371900 or email   mgmt@wedgwoodmuseum.org.uk  The cost is not stated.

13th November 09 (10am - 1pm). 'Masterclass with Neil Brownsword' at the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke-on-Trent. Booking essential. £7.50. More details from: 01782 237777.

Sat 12th September, 3–4pm:  Angela Munslow / Discussing her artistic practice as a sculptor

Sat 19th September, 2–4pm:  Rita Banks / Demonstrating using acrylics

Sat 3rd October, 2–4pm:  Jean Byatt / Demonstrating painting using pastels

Carmel's research ... resulted in a booklet entitled The Forsyths at St Joseph's Church, Burslem. It tells the incredible story of father and daughter artists joining forces with a priest and the local Member of Parliament to produce one of the city's little-known treasures. ... it was paid for by subscription and congregation collection, and it was constructed by the hands of the unemployed men of Burslem, brought together during a time of distress and mass unemployment ... and paid with a daily bowl of soup and a chunk of bread. ... St Joseph's rose from the ruins of an old pottery factory. Father Browne even got the men to demolish the potbank first as they daily got stuck-in with pick and shovel. And as the church building grew, the newly appointed Burslem School of Art principal, Gordon Forsyth (1879-1952), watched with interest, as did the newly-elected Burslem MP Andrew MacLaren. It was MacLaren who later suggested to Father Browne that because the church had been built by Burslem's unemployed men, they should be the ones to decorate it ... He said they should be enrolled in the School of Art so they could be taught the skills to make the stained-glass windows. Naturally there was no money to fund this notion so MacLaren took his plan to Forsyth. Soon a free Saturday morning class at the Wedgwood Institute was up and running for 50 St. Joseph's parishioners."

"How can over-stretched museums and cultural institutions recognise consumer needs, exceed consumer desires, and leverage a sustainable source of income without wrecking the very special relationship they've created with their audiences?"

* 30th September 09
* 28th October 09
* 11th November 09.

* expand entry routes and diversify the workforce
* enhance leadership, professional development and business support
* review craft qualifications
* restore and reinvigorate craft education in schools
* raise the ambition of the sector

"evidence is now emerging of widespread cuts to local authority arts, culture and tourism budgets and/or small grant schemes. This coincides with a reduced Advantage West Midlands budget and reduced availability of funding from private investment ... The number of advertised cultural sector vacancies has dropped again in recent months to nearly half what it was during the same period last year."

"Our research into artists' employment in 2008 shows an 81% reduction in volume of openly offered work in October to December – 63% fewer commissions, 95% fewer residencies and no academic jobs listed. Factoring in evidence from the first quarter of 2009 suggests the reduction in the value of paid work this year could be as high as 44%."

* 19th October 2009: Peter Walshe on "The Digital Consumer" in Wolverhampton.
* 27th October 2009: Paul Connor on "Marketing Performance Metrics" in Birmingham.
* 3rd November 2009: Keith Batchelor on "Customer Focus-Group Interviewing" in Crewe.
* 14th January 2010: Simon Harrop on "An Introduction to Multi-sensory Branding" in Stoke-on-Trent.

* What you would like to do
* Media, methods and materials you would use
* Where the workshop/event will take place
* How you would engage with participants
* Estimates of how the £600 would be spent

"cover all aspects of the contemporary ceramic scene - studio ceramics, sculptural forms or experimental pieces - be they established or emerging makers. This includes ceramic students and enthusiasts".

"one of the finest displays of Mason's ceramics you will find on public display. This invitation provides visitors with a rare opportunity to view some of the most important items made over a 200 year span of the company's history displayed in historic Keele Hall, former home of the Sneyd family."

"Culturing Stuff is an arts, music and social creative community, based in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. A place where creative people in Stoke & Staffordshire can get together, make friends and create a buzz, be creative and express our cultural side. A place to share videos, audio, photos, stories and our culture. Watch live music and listen to bands. Listen to tracks from Stoke's music making locals. Find out what's happening on the stoke music and arts scene and share your own music, art and thoughts with us. We're creating a tourist map of information about Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire and it's all made by you."

"graduated in or after 2008 from Higher Education Institutes studying ceramics or related clay-based activities (including postgraduate programmes) at colleges within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland."

BCB: Place will see artists make "new site-specific works, raising the profile of ceramics in the city, and giving new identity to locations." BCB: Explore will see artists "take part in research within the ceramics industry". BCB: Public will see community workshops across the city. BCB: Start will "support the setting up of nine new creative ceramics businesses between 2009 and 2013". And BCB: Scrapbank will be a Recycle Resource Project in Burslem, where "discarded and surplus materials, tools, equipment and ceramics will be collected, sorted, and distributed for re-use in the BCB projects and programme".

"What kinds of feature films are currently being approved in the UK? Who's funding them, and how do you get your foot on the ladder as a new writer? An overview of the films that have been made in the last few years: trends, funders, writing schemes - and how to gain access to development funding, commissioners and producers."

^{New! 18.06.09}     Congratulations to the new Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston, which has this week won the 'Art Fund Museum of the Year Award'. The museum is dedicated to the people who have made objects of great beauty from the soil of Staffordshire, and celebrates the enterprise and tenacity of the universally-famous Wedgwood name. Sure to be a stop of your list of local outings this summer!

Covering letter with full address and contact details.
Recent C.V. (no longer than two sides of A4).
Up to four printed or digital images of your work (if visual).
Expression of Interest statement (maximum 600 words).

An outline of your proposed action research idea (based around one of the themes: Environment, Access, Digital, Regeneration, Health). How you propose to present or create online content for the Longhouse website to record and document (or as part of) your research. Your thoughts on how you expect this bursary will impact you and your practice in both the short and long term.

"If you're 16 plus, with a passion for comic art and live in the West Midlands, then Hi8us Midlands' latest FREE comic art scheme called COMIX, could be for you. All the lucky winners will also get to work with people on similar schemes across Europe and get a supported trip to a comic art festival in Spain as well as a trip to the Birmingham International Comics Show."

"The show has been extended until the 9th of May, after great reviews in national, international and the art press. Notably the review in Art Monthly, just out."

"the area's textile heritage — its strong connections to the Arts & Crafts Movement in Leek, ribbon and velvet making in Congleton, silk weaving and design in Macclesfield, and the cotton mills of Bollington and Styal."

"hands-on workshops to learn rag-rugging, knitting, demonstrations of sheep-shearing, spinning and weaving and much more — over 60 events are already confirmed."

"working with paper to produce interesting and original artwork, and in practice we are looking for work that can be placed upon the wall of the gallery."

"get free beer and food on the festival day and will play again on the main stage to battle it out in the final ... The eventual winners will open the evening event in front of a 1500 capacity crowd as 4th support to Hawkwind. Votes will be by text from your fans and will be held open for three weeks after each event and for the day on the festival day."

"...support and help writers to improve and get published. We meet monthly, usually on the second Saturday of the month. For further details contact stokeonwriting _at_ gmail.com"

Rachel Billington (Acting Director) rachel _at_ picl.uk.com Iain Perry (Programme Coordinator) - iain _at_ picl.uk.com Erica Love (Operations Manager) - erica _at_ picl.uk.com Our new information email for general enquiries is info _at_ picl.uk.com

"I am seeking some work-experience with either a ceramisist or a sculptor, because I complete my course in July 09 and hope to find suitable employment."

"To coincide with Rhubarb's tenth birthday, photographers in the UK are invited to apply for the new Rhubarb/Arts Council Bursary Scheme 2009, where the ten chosen will be profiled at the Rhubarb International Review in July/August this year. Five photographers will be chosen from the West Midlands region, and five from the rest of the UK."

"I thought that I would write to you with 'one of those things' that make you realise why you created this site in the first place. The micro-company that I created recently got bought out (with a big cash injection for my new venture). Instead of - as suggested/forced by my investors - working from Manchester for its creative community, I used the Creative Stoke website to show exactly how the city and the region is a place of great creativity with lots of potential for more. [...] I have since dragged a couple of Mancs and Brummies this way to work in Newcastle-u-L, every day, for a living. [...] So, a big thank you for helping me persuade some hefty financial backers that Stoke is the place for my business."

"Some thoughts to get you writing... What will you feel when the old Maternity Block is pulled down? / Do you recall the colours, smells and sounds? / How did it feel to hold your first baby? / What is your message for a newborn child? / Do you have a message for the future? / What were your hopes, dreams and fears for your unborn child? / What kind of world would you like a child to enter? "

"The Drum School due to start back on Sunday 1st March 2009 at 4pm, with the recently formed 'Samba Cultura' taking place on alternate Sundays. Both are due to take place in the School of Art".

"been teaching singing for a number of years in the West Midlands and am now based in Staffordshire. I welcome students of all ages, experience and voice types. I have worked for a number of schools and sixth-forms, and also as a singing teacher for Stagecoach Theatre Arts [...] I prepare students for GCSE, A Level and auditions [...] and am on the pathway to becoming a Certified Master Teacher in Estill Voice Training — a method used in many leading full-time drama schools."

"If you have an interest in the development of opportunities in dance in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, I would encourage you to attend and find out more about how to access the funding and resources available through the Legacy Trust."

"...a discussion of the nature of the texts and images associated with retailing and retailers, including commercial images, artistic and literary representations, photographs and postcards, the printed word and the visual arts."

What role do urban researchers, artists and photographers play in regeneration processes?" "Are we accomplices or critics of power? The Dutch research group BAVO provocatively argue that researchers and artists here are equivalent to embedded journalists [in warzones] ...

"digital media based community arts project in the heart of ... the Waterside area in Stoke-on-Trent."

"Benches" is a collaborative mission combining dance, photography and digital processes. Created from thoughts and images of the people of North Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent this project uses public benches as a meeting point and aims to unveil aspects of the areas contemporary identity."

"The day will consist of presentations from experts and the opportunity for makers to discuss their funding ideas and ask questions in small informal discussions groups. Booking is essential."

"harness children's love of and enjoyment of stories, as a central theme to promote aspects of emotional communication."

"develop in our pupils their ability to communicate effectively, in a variety of contexts, for a real purpose and audience. We wish to examine how engaging with PR professionals might enhance and inspire their ability to speak, listen, read and write. Our aim is to develop a permanent school based PR company that is run by the pupils."

"to explore any area of their [school] grounds as a setting to give ownership to our pupils to explore their own adventures [via] drama, storytelling or other forms of creative practice."

1) give annual research and development (R&D) awards of up to £50,000 to leading artistic, media and technical talent to explore the creative and economic possibilities of innovative content for new and emerging media platforms.

2) [smaller] awards help you take proposals from initial concept to pilot or prototype stage, where they could attract further development funding, production investment or full commissioning.

3) [enabling] creative and digital companies and individual practitioners to work with partners anywhere in the world.

“This is your chance to find out about [...] 4IP and the Digital Content Development Programme. Meet the funders and find out what they are looking for. The day will bring decision-makers from key regional arts organisations and digital agencies together [...] Up to three winning ideas created at C:CUBED will be awarded £1,000 development grants”

“This event is invitation only, but sessions will be webcast live and available online.”

"To support three selected mid-career designer makers from the West Midlands to develop and showcase new work and access new market opportunities."

"Music for Dance for Music aims to offer an informal, fun and enjoyable environment for musicians and dancers to work together to create original work and give each other confidence to share their skills. The weekend will consist of company class, breakout workshops, jamming sessions and structured improvisation. All musicians are welcome, whether you are an instrumentalist, a percussionist or a vocalist and dancers from any discipline from street to ballroom would benefit from this unique training opportunity."

"one day and two day workshops that will cover a range of key animation skills including timing, movement, sound and the preparation of 3D models enabling you to explore traditional animation styles and techniques."

"Do you keep a cat onboard your narrowboat, cruiser or barge? Or are you a lock keeper who lives in a waterside cottage with a cat? If so, Cats on the Cut would like to hear from you. If you would like to share your stories, experiences or anecdotes of cats on the cut, contact Linda Prince on 07887 600028 or email: catsonthecut _at_ yahoo.co.uk

"unique, high impact marketing support programme available to small companies [...] delivered by experienced marketeers who have worked with large and small companies and who understand the marketing, branding and selling processes". Participating companies will be offered a launch event, plus a... "thorough marketing audit, some relevant research and the development of a strategic plan".

"organisations that work with young people, as well as filmmakers, who would like to find out about opportunities through our funding schemes. ... Spaces are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. To book a place please email simon@firstlightmovies.com with your contact details (postal address, telephone) as well as your dietary requirements as a light lunch will be provided, and whether you agree to share your details with the other attendees for a contact list. If you have any queries please call us on 0121 753 4866."

"The Writers' Toolkit is a day for emerging and established writers and anyone working in the writing industry to learn about aspects of the business in greater detail, connect with other writers and those working in writer development. A mixture of presentations, seminars, question and answer sessions and discussions, it will bring together people and organisations concerned with writing in the West Midlands. Sessions will include - pitching ideas for stage and screen, teaching creative writing, becoming a business, publishing and using an agent, working with BBC radio, careers in literature development, producing live literature and many more"

* outline proposal of no more than 500-words
* an abbreviated C.V. as an MS Word .doc
* up to five low-res JPG images

Email to: info _at_ youplusus.net by noon on 3rd October 08.

Click to launch the gallery.

"The key aim of the commissions within the building is to enhance the visitor experience and animate the new public spaces through contemporary arts practice ... commissioned works will be sited within or in close proximity to the new mac building. Works may be integrated into the fabric of the building, stand-alone, functional, on-line and/or interactive. We are keen to encourage commissions using digital and new media."

"We are hoping to establish a self-managing group for writers who want genuine feedback on their work. This will be a forum for writers who hope to take their work to a higher level, perhaps with a view to publication and performance. If you are interested in prose fiction, poetry or writing for the stage or screen, please do come along."

Subscribe to Creative Stoke's Yahoo! group

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"meet every Thursday evening at Wellington Road Community Centre based at Dresden Street, Hanley, just off Commercial Road. We usually arrive at about 7.30pm and start at 7.45pm. We have a break for tea/coffee and biscuits. We are a friendly club and will certainly make you welcome."

"inform firms of the opportunities from the London 2012 Olympics that could boost your bottom line and how you could be involved."

Monday the 15th Sept — Preferably for this day we need people aged under 30. We would not need people until around 5pm and they must be willing to stay until midnight!

Tuesday the 16th Sept — For this day we would like a mix of ages but preferably those over thirty. These are scenes in which we really need older people. Its a great chance for those of you who want to be involved in the film but haven't had much opportunity to get on camera! We would need people to be available from midday to 11pm.

Friday the 19th / Sat the 20th Sept — If you live in the area and want to get involved then this is your last chance as these are out final days in Stoke-on-Trent! The hours for Fridy are 9am-8pm and the hours for Sat are 8am-7pm. these two days are crucial for us as we are finishing our shots of Wigan Casino in the Kings Hall. If you've come for one of our big days before then it would be great to have to back. These scenes are really crucial to the film, we need big crowds to recreate on film the essence of what made the Wigan Casino so unique. All ages are welcome and it would be great to get as many new faces as possible, so invite as many friends and family as possible.

"a massive dance scene which will recreate the vibe of 1974 at Wigan Casino".

"Th' bulldozers came last wayk; thee didna waste any tarme... Now, ow ah can see from mar back yard is a sea of debris, red, black 'n' grey; and th' tide stretches back as far as thayse tired owd eyes of marne can see fer. Pretty soon, ah suppose, ah'll bay the eownly one arahind 'ere that's left..."

"After completing a series of celebrated TV adverts for companies such as The Famous Grouse and Fairy Liquid, Stoke-on-Trent-based SMA Studios are now planning to incorporate and expand the company to 30+ animators in order to produce a feature-film and two high-profile TV series in the region."

"... we will produce a brief for designers to work from. We would then expect the designers to present their ideas to young people who will pick whom they would like to work with. It may be a different designer for each project, or one designer to do the lot, this will be the young people's decision."

The main online resource is the free PDF file "UK photographers rights: a short guide to photographers rights in the UK". This is a concise two-page guide published in 2004 by Linda Macpherson, a lecturer in law at Heriot Watt University. Other online resources are: i) from the venerable Urban 75, which has issued a 2008 protestors guide to photographers rights; and ii) the UK Bureau of Freelance Photographers has recently issued its 7,000 members with a photographers rights card (the page linked has a scan of the card).

Those seeking further advice relevant to the UK could consult the books The Photographer and the Law (1997) by Don Cassell, and The Law of Photography and Digital Images (2004) by Christina Michalos. The latter is an expensive tome meant for the offices of lawyers — but a Times article by Michalos, putting the gist of her book into everyday language, is available here.

In regards to reportage — it should be further noted that... i) the Data Protection Act has an exemption for photos by journalists and artists; and that... ii) journalists have additional exemption from copyright when photographing copyrighted items of "artistic craftsmanship" (even if these might be "temporarily situated", as in a gallery show freely open to the public), if the photographs are for the purpose of "making a published review".

The above is intended purely as a broad outline of your rights and is not a definitive legal statement and is not to be relied on.

"This performance is an exciting opportunity to introduce large numbers of students to opera, or to enhance an already established interest in the art form. A full series of support materials and workshops are available for students and teachers, exploring the ways in which these performances can integrate and accompany the exploration of music, literature and drama."

Enter gallery...

"We are a creative company employing six designers working on a number of international exhibition projects. Annexed to our studio is a workshop with fifteen craftspeople creating bespoke displays for exhibitions and museums. Currently there is a vacancy in our projects office. This would suit a person who loves taking a design through to the finished item."

^{New! 19.06.08}    Added to the Directory: Aerial Eyes — specialist low-altitude aerial photographers, based in Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent.

"£30 million first phase of the 16ha scheme, a media centre ... four floors of offices and radio facilities on the top floor. ... a 200-seat auditorium to record live shows, and the TV centre"

"...act as a researcher for a TV Production, set within the last 100 years. You will have a hand in everything from researching the period to working on the scripts; from designing the costumes to dressing the set. All this within a buzzing university environment, where you can talk you our staff and students, see our facilities and find out what exciting opportunities are available for you. The event is open to post 16 students from across Staffordshire who have an interest in History and would like to study it at Higher Education level. Places are limited so book early to guarantee a place." Details from:   j.albins@staffs.ac.uk

"The fellowship is directed at artists at the beginning of or at a critical point in their professional career. Applicants should normally have a first degree and/or a postgraduate qualification in Fine Art. The Fellow will be provided with a studio in the School of Art and will have access to all of the Schools’ facilities. The fellowship lasts for 10 months commencing in October 2008 and culminates in an exhibition. The Fellow will receive a stipend of £9,000."

"to address challenges faced by mid-career [ crafts and textiles ] makers, exploring opportunities: financial, personal and educational. Speakers: Cas Holmes (Maker), Marlene Little (Course Director B.A. Textile Design), Beatrice Mayfield (Crafts Council), and Heather Rigg (Designer Maker West Midlands)"

"Currently the intention of the core group is to commission a range of projects; two projects up to £8,000 (two at £4,000), and a number of small projects in the range £500 to £1,000, and we will also be seeking to commission from students at the lower range of £250 to £500. It should be borne in mind that these are guidelines not ceilings and that value-for-money will be a consideration. Please note that these commissions are dependent on successful funding bids."

”..120-page photo diary containing over 200 black & white and colour photographs of bands including, Babyshambles, The Cribs, Bloc Party, Editors, Foo Fighters, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Ian Brown, Kasabian, We Are Scientists and many local Stoke bands.”

^{New! 06.05.08}      Added to the Directory: Steve Roberts Caricatures. Buy prints, or commission a caricature picture of your friends, family, workmates, or even your own fave celeb. Steve is a cartoonist based in Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent.

"Regional artists are invited to submit their work for the first Open West Midlands, taking place at Wolverhampton Art Gallery this summer. Deadline: 28th May 08." (DVDs and CDs acceptable!).

"381 pages with over 2,500 full colour reproductions ... This Staffordshire volume shows over 2,500 oil paintings from 34 publicly-owned collections in the county including those in the metropolitan boroughs of Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell. Showing paintings both on display and in store, and ranging from Old Masters to Pop Art, this comprehensive catalogue offers a valuable insight into the artistic heritage and history of the county. Major collections such as those at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, and The New Art Gallery in Walsall are featured alongside collections owned by a wide range of smaller museums, Keele University and local authorities."

Explore ideas for public art, visual arts interventions, exhibitions and commissions and provide a business-plan for how to take the work forward;

Consult with schools, the people of Leek, Leek Historical Society and other individuals and groups;

Provide a shortlist of potential artists;

Develop grant applications to enable the work to happen.

“how using Serious Games can improve your business functionality. The key objective for participants will be to contribute to the development of a game that will ultimately be available on the commercial market.”

“you will not only receive business training through using the game but also be able to network with your peers and hear from Dan Jones, the Head of New Media at Maverick Television, one of the UK’s longest established regional indies. … On conclusion of the programme participants will receive a certificate from Birmingham City University to confirm their involvement as well as at least six months’ free trial of the final developed game, plus a free Nintendo DS loaded with the game Brain Training.

The workshops will be held on: —

Wednesday 19th March / Interactive Workshop 1 (9.30am – 4.00pm), Birmingham. Friday 4th April / Interactive Workshop 2 (9.30am – 1.30pm), Birmingham. Friday 25th April / Final Summary event (11.30am – 2.30pm), Coventry.

Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and participants need to be able to attend all three of the events. If you are interested in being ‘one of the 10’ and would like to find out more email the programme coordinator, Rose Padmore rpadmore@opening-doors.org.uk

"Creative business start-up and development programme, approximately 60 hours over 2/3 months – leading to a level 3 award in Creative Business Start-up. Putting a business plan together can seem like an incredibly daunting task, but this programme brings together a formalized timetable delivery structure with peer to per support and personalized one-to-one advice and guidance with a creative industries business startup specialist, to support learners through the process in a non-alienating or scary way. Free to any West Midlands based creative business start-up or businesses within 12 month of trading. Location: the Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham. For more information call 0121 224 7308."

..."workshops, a behind the scenes insight into the development of the region’s latest online channel and a short lecture on what every Alton Towers visitor needs – the science of rollercoasters! [...] The conference is free to attend, with each ticket valued at £550, for businesses employing up to 250 people. To attend the conference, or for further information please email events@ideasforlife.tv"

^{New! 21.12.07}   Maple Court Primary School in Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent is working with Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent on an exciting project, and the school is looking for "a Drama-in-Education practitioner with the ability to teach Investigative Science (AT1) within an imaginary context" by fully engaging children aged 3 to 6. Deadline 4th Jan 08. Creative Stoke has the full details in the brief (PDF, 18kb).

^{New! 15.12.07}   Added to the Directory:   Painter William Eccleston has a new website, and is "based in Hanley, in a purpose-built studio".

Crewe and Nantwich would like to hear from an artist or artists who can work with community groups to create visual art and flower/plant bed designs using natural products found in and inspired by two areas of the Borough, Queens Park in Crewe and Nantwich Weir Pool. Both projects will culminate in a sharing of work at the annual Cultural Festival in August 2008. Brief available from: Jocelyn McMillan at  jocelyn.mcmillan@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

Congleton Borough Council seek a visual artist to engage with young people from both the settled community and the gypsy / traveller communities to create a sculptural garden using recycled and found materials. The 'garden' will be installed on a narrowboat as part of the Middlewich Floating Garden Festival. Brief available from: Julie Walker at  julie.walker@congleton.gov.uk

Macclesfield Borough Council would like to hear from a wood sculptor to work with a community group to create 'Taylor's Corner' in Knutsford, and a community artist working with willow to develop the 'Tree of Life' project at a medium-secure unit. Brief available from: Shelagh Malley, Senior Community Activities Officer at  s.malley@macclesfield.gov.uk

^{New! 25.11.07}   Added to the Directory:   Burslem Arts is a new website that profiles and sells "art and unique items all made in a 20 mile radius of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent". It also has a PDF catalogue/flyer for the Burslem Arts Festival.

^{New! 23.10.07}   Are you a budding storyteller with true-life stories about Port Vale Football Club between the 1950s and the 1980s? If so, the Lottery-funded Port Vale Tales is a project touring Stoke-on-Trent to hear people's stories. One of the future stops will be at the WRVS at King George VI Club, Hanley on 28th November 07, at 10am. Other events will be in Sneyd Green, Abbey Hulton, Burslem and Fenton. Interested? Contact Bill at  bill.cawley@stadiumcommunities.org.uk

^{New! 19.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   SMA Studios - a highly-experienced character-based animation studio, creating work for commercials, TV, and features. Based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.

^{New! 19.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Emily Campbell - a Stoke-based artist undertaking public art projects, including arts and health work. Her Love Ties work and other work can be seen on her web site and Love Ties is also featured on Creative Stoke.

^{New! 19.10.07}   Creative Stoke has a downloadable and A4-printable copy of the rather beautiful Dishinit poster (225kb), featuring hand-painting ceramics from this unique Stoke-on-Trent arts project...

^{New! 12.10.07}   Pamela Wells, curator and artist of the Dishinit arts project in Stoke-on-Trent, writes to give us the dates for the exciting project. It will launch to the public on Tuesday 23rd October, 6:30-8:30pm, at the New Vic Theatre (continues until 17th Nov 07). Sure to be a good creative networking evening. Pamela is also interested in hearing from "any writers who'd be interested" in helping to "get some critical dialogue going", with the possibility of publication. Interested? Pamela Wells can be contacted on 07771 746383 or via the Dishinit website.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Barry Brown, of Stoke-on-Trent College, writes that he is... "interested in the possiblility of develop links between the local creative industries and the media/design department of Stoke-on-Trent College." Are you interested in putting your own firm or agency forward for such industry-education links? Contact Barry at: bbrow1sc@stokecoll.uk

^{New! 12.10.07}   The Staffordshire Dance Collective has a visiting guest workshop in late October. New Art Club – Tom Roden will be giving a workshop at 1pm-4pm, on Sunday 21st October 07...

"New Art Club was formed in 2001 by Tom Roden and Pete Shenton. The duo's inimitable combination of dance, theatre and comedy has been experienced by many through their repertoire of comedy dance shows. New Art Club believe that choreography is an easy, accessible artistic discipline that can be practised by all. They create a safe, supportive environment for artists to work in and with an inclusive and demystifying approach to skills-based sessions, their work aims to have a memorable and important effect on the creative and physical development of artists."

Cost: £6/£4 (with discounts for MMU 3rd Year Students). The venue is the Alsager Campus of MMU, near Stoke-on-Trent. For more information or to book a place please email: rachael@staffsdancecollective.co.uk Visit for more information about these workshops and the collective.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Cosmic Studios is a professional recording studio, located in the heart of the beautiful and extensive grounds of Trentham Lakes and Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Catherine Murray writes from Newcastle-under-Lyme, that she is "a freelance translator specialising in French and Italian translations into English." If you can use her services, more information can be had from cd@murray2.eclipse.co.uk

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Chris Lees is a Stoke-on-Trent photographer who has recently launched an online portfolio at chrisleesphotography.com

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Les Jones is a Stone-based designer offering "Unique Graphic Art Based on your Name".

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Tom Walker is a Stoke-on-Trent photographer who has recently launched an online portfolio at www.tomwalker.tw

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   J.W. Hand & Partners Ltd, based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, and providing... "a specialist service to the ceramic industry ... Design Visualisation, Rapid Prototyping, Modeling, Blocking, Casing, Ram Press and Die making, Silicone Rubber and Resin Master Moulds. We can also provide training and offer a consultancy service."

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:  Mark writes from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, to say that he's set up... "a complete service to the creative and ceramics industry offering: film output, digital print, large format print, display and exhbition graphics, one-2-one marketing, vehicle graphics, photography and web design. Interested? Check out his cipher-graphics.co.uk website.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:  Jo Robinson writes from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, to say that she is a... "freelance music composer specialising in music for corporate video, documentaries and short films" and has recently moved to Stoke-on-Trent from London. Interested in using her services? Her company website is Poco a Poco Music.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Creative Stoke is now back from the summer holidays. The break involved a home-move, and then a six-week delay in getting the BT phone lines and internet hooked up again. Hence the delay in re-starting Creative Stoke's activities after the summer. Our apologies.

(Newer "what's new" entries are here.)

(Even older "What's New" entries (2002 - 2007) are are archived here as a 1.2Mb PDF.)